How Does Diabetes Affect Your Eye Health?

Eye health is crucial, like any other part of your body. Therefore, it is essential to observe proper eye care to enhance your vision and prevent eye health conditions. Various medical conditions affect your eye health, including diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, sleep apnea, among others. Some injuries or accidents during your early stage of life may also affect your eye health. Thankfully, Jenkintown ophthalmologist & eye surgeon at Suburban Eye Associates provides practical care for different eye health issues. Here is how diabetes affects your eye health.

What is diabetic eye disease?

It’s the eye health issues that occur due to diabetes. Typically, diabetic people are at risk of developing various eye problems, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and diabetic macular edema.

Diabetes leads to eye damage that may cause poor vision and sometimes blindness when not treated. Therefore, it is essential to schedule a consultation with an ophthalmologist when you first notice changes in your eye.

Proper diabetes management can help prevent diabetic eye disease.

What are the symptoms of diabetic eye disease?

The following symptoms may indicate diabetic eye disease.

•       Vision loss
•       Flashes of light
•       Impaired color vision
•       Blurry vision
•       Vision changes
•       Wavy vision
•       Dark spots in your vision
•       Floaters

Diabetic eye disease may not show any symptoms during the development stage. Routine eye exams may be essential in recognizing the illness early and providing treatments to prevent complications.

What increases the risk for diabetic eye disease?

If you have diabetes, you are likely to develop diabetic retinopathy, among other diabetes eye problems. However, some factors increase your risk of diabetic-related eye disease, including

•       Having diabetes for an extended period
•       High cholesterol
•       Smoking
•       Pregnancy
•       High blood pressure
•       Poor blood sugar control

Diagnosis of diabetic eye disease

During your consultation, your provider evaluates your past health history and symptoms. The team at Suburban Eye Associates then conducts a thorough eye exam to identify diabetes-related issues. They also place drops in the eyes to enlarge the pupils and check the extended parts at the back of your eyes.

The team carries out vision tests, checks your eye pressure, or might administer a special dye to your arm vein. Your provider also performs imaging tests, including optical coherence tomography, to determine the cause of your problem and design a treatment plan.

Treating diabetic eye disease

They create your treatment plan to meet your specific needs. Your provider suggests different treatment options, including

•       Medications
•       Quitting smoking
•       Laser treatments
•       Injections
•       Proper blood sugar management
•       Lowering your cholesterol levels
•       Controlling your blood pressure
•       Surgical procedures

When detected early, you can lower the risk or prevent complications of diabetic eye disease. Regular eye checkups are also effective in stopping further worsening of the problem.

Diabetes occurs due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Poor vision, among other eye health problems, is one of the effects of diabetes. Diabetic eye disease may not show any signs during the early stages. Routine eye exams efficiently detect the problem and help provide early treatments. If you have diabetes, you must have regular, thorough eye exams. Contact Suburban Eye Associates in Pennsylvania today to schedule your appointment.